Folding machine



Nov. 26, 1935. L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 19:50

. 2 Sheets-Sheet l L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE Nov. 26, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1930 ham-a N... 26,1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,322,352 romnvo moms Ohio.

Leo Kahn, New York, Y., m, by meaneassignmcnts, to American Laundry hin company,

Mao cry hio,ea corporation of 'mu aam sum 20, 1e20, sen-nine. 416,405

. 1: Claims. .(ci. zit-1n) This invention relates to. folding machines and more particularly to those to fold fabric articles of'varlous sizes automatically. Among the objects of this invention are'the fol- ;6 lowing:

To provide for the auto tic folding of articles, fed .in succession, in any desired ratio of division proportionate to their lengths.

To provide for time automatic selection of the 'withmechanismtalringuptheminimumspace.

and that will be simple and cheap of construction.

, And to provide other adva eous features through a novel arrangement 0 parts and combination of elements.

These and other objects are attained by means of a device described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings forming part thereof, thenovel improvements being set forth in the ap- 30 pended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal view of a folding machine embodyin the invention parts being shown 3 schematically to clearly illustrate the invention. construction of one of-the switch mechanism to an enlarged scale. A

- Fig. 3 is an electric circuit'diagram.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views to enlarged scale of the switch mechanism assembly, showing alternate methods of eifecting the closing of the circuits. V The folding machine includes a base Ill having an intake table II and delivery tables l2, l3 and u. A motor' li'through its transmission and belting I 6 drives the pairs of rollers l1, l8, l9 and others over'which are carried sets of the tapes .and 2!, 22 and 23 and 24. Fabric articles 25 particularly of the'type of flat sheets, table cloths, towels, etc. are adapted to be fed on the intake table I l between the two rollers i1, and the tapes 7 20 propel the articles bY'YiIfllB of the frictional contact between them toward the folding device 23. I I 55 Between certain pairs of adioining tapes 2., 2|,

device at the propermoment by a static system of Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of a preferred.

22 and 23 and normallyprotriiding above thetapes in the path of the fabric articles 23, are mounted in close proximity to eachother a plurality of switches 21, 23, 29 and "which are resiliently held inposition preferably by means of 5- torsion springs 3|. Terminals 32 and 34 on one side of the folding devices 23, 23' respectively; are 0 each individually connected with corresponding terminals 33 and 35 respectively on the other side of the said folding devices by connectors 36,'and 10' among themselves on the approaching side of the folder by connectors 31. Switches 21 and 29 are j preferably normally adapted to contact with terminals 32 and 33. respectively but as each switch is depressed it will make electrical connection v11- with the adjoining switch next away from the folder 26, 26' as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Switches 28 and 30 are on the other hand normally out of contact with their respective terminals 33 and but are electrically. connected one to the'other 2 and to one terminal of the source ofpower 33 which is connected through a relay 39 to the first switch2'l, 29' on the approaching side (the folders.

' The iirst switches 21' and 23' on the 'approach- 25 are preferably ing side of the. folders 28', 23'

wiping contact adapted when depressed to make a 'wlth their respective terminals 32', 33', the advantage becoming evident from an understanding of the operation of the device ashereinafter ex- 30 plained. V The relay switch 30 is connected inseries with the folder operating solenoid ll to the source of the power 42. The folders 26, 28' are here illustrated in the fol-"m of a plurality of wedge-(shaped 35 members adapted to be moved'up between the tapes, in order to wedge the article 25,between the rollers I8 or l9 when the desired line of fold is in line with these members. A dash pot l3 or 40 similar device may be used to delay the plunger action of the solenoid 4i. r

The operation of the device scribed is as follows:

Articles 25 arefed in succession from the table Ii, placed between the rollers l1 and are carried by the frictional grip of the moving upper and lower tapes 20 toward the'folder 25., The leading edge of article 25 strikes the protruding switches 21 in succession and the article in passing on holds the switches depressed throughout its length, the switches being released to-resume their normal position when the'rear edge of the article has passed by them. v

The folder members 26 are normally below the level of the tapes, so thattheartittle continues hereinabove de- I in its travel between the tapes 2| on the other side of the folder 26, and depresses switches 28 as it comes in contact with them. The article continues until the leading edge depresses a switch 28 to contact with the terminal 33 which is connected with terminal 32 corresponding to the particular one of switches'21 which had been just released by the rear edge of the article. At that-moment,'it will be noted, the relay 39 circuit will be closed, and the relay becomes energized-and in thereby pulling .up its plunger closes the switch 40. This effects the closing of the solenoid 4| circuit and consequent actuation of .the folder 26, whichlifts the article along its line of fold until the article is gripped by rollers I8 and is carried away by tapes 22 to repeat the operation if so desired.

It is-the present practice to fold such articles as sheets, towels, handkerchiefs ctc., in halves, thirds or quarters, and certain very small articles not at all. Automatic selection of theratio of fold is therefore very desirable. To that end, 'con nectors 31 are provided in addition to connectors 35, to provide zones for the various ratios that may be desired, and switches 44 are provided to vary the zoning at will.

If article 25 is of a si ze to be folded along its center line, then the leading and rear edges mush be equi-distant from and on opposite sides of thefolder 26, and the switch 28 depressed by the leading edge must make connection with the switch 21 last released by the rear edge of the article.

Since the intervening depressed switches 21 become disconnected from their respective terminals 32,,closing of the solenoid actuating circuit is positively prevented except when the desired position of the article is reachedrelative to th folder.

If however the article is to be folded say one-v third its length from its leading edge, then it is merely necessary to connect the terminal 33 corresponding to the switch 28 which is one third of the article's-length from the folder with the terminal32 corresponding to switch 21 two-thirds of the article's length from the folder. Connectors 31 perform that function by connecting the ter-' minals 32 on the approaching side, a different ratio being-obtained for every.:additional interconnection. switches'll are provided to eflect tionally to their length and means for automatithese additional interconnections at will of the operator, whothereby creates zones for articles of different sizes for folding the articles in the ratio desired for each zone.

Articles of very small dimension in their directions of travel, which will release the first switch 21'. or 29' on the approaching side of the folder 26 or 26', before depressing the first switch 28 or 30 ,on the other side of that folder, is adapted to be passed on without being folded. This is effected by arranging forswitch 21' or 29' to make a pming contact with its terminal 32' or 34', so that no circuit is closed when switch 28 or 30 is depressed. However, the relay circuit will be temporarily closed and the actuation of the folder 26 or 26 effected only when switch 21 or 29' makes a wiping contact with its terminal 32 or 34 jwhenreleased by the rear endf of the article and .when its corresponding connecting switch- 28 or 30 ,1 is .depressed by the leading edge of the article making contact with terminals 33 and 35 at the -;instant a wiping contact is made at terminal 32 or, if the article is of the length to actuate both switches.

The mechanism 43 is provide to retard the action of the folder 26 when so desired, should the irregularity of the edges of the article warrant their disalignment. The article moving at a constant speed, will cause the line of exact division to move past the folder by the time the latter is actuated. The amount of disalignment may ofcourse be readily adjusted by acn'ustment ,of the retarding mechanism, which in the dash pot type would involve mere enlargement or contraction of the valve opening.

Accordingly, a folding machine is here pre- I sented, that automatically selects the number of folds 'of articles of varying lengths, the ratio of division proportional to their lengths and automatically folds them and delivers them in folded condition at the particular table corresponding 15 to the number of folds. As illustration in Fig. 1, table l2 delivers articles which pass by unfolded; table 13 delivers articles having been folded once but are too small for additional folding; andtable l4 delivers articles having been folded twice. U

Accordingly what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A folding machine having folding devices, means for conveying articles of various sizes into operative relation to said folding devices, means 85 for selecting the division and number of folds proportional to the length of said articles, and means for actuating .said folding devices when said articles have been positioned relative to said folding devices thereby to effect said fold division.

2. A folding machine having folding devices. means for conveying articles of various sizes into operative relation to said folding devices, means for selecting the division and number of folds proportional to the length of said articles, said means for selecting'the division of said articles including a plurality of members adapted to be interconnected on opposite sides of said folding devices and having interconnections between members on the approaching side of said folding 40 devices, and means for actuating said folding devices whenever a pair of interconnected members on opposite sides thereof have been suitably actuated.

3. A foldirig machine comprising folding de- 45 vices, means for conveying articles of various sizes into operative relation'to said folding devices, means controlled by said articles for actuating said folding devices to fold said articles proporcally preventing said actuation of said folding devices when said articles are of sufliciently small 4. A controller for devices adapted to fold articles of varying sizes, comprising a plurality -of 5;; members adapted to be actuated by said articles, and interconnections between said members to form electrical control circuits for automatically actuating saiddevices to fold said articles proportionally to their length, and for automatically .0 preventing said actuation when the length of said articles is less than a predetermined minimum.

5. In a device of the class described, a plurality of folders, a plurality of delivery ta les, means for conveying articles of various siz s past said folders toward said delivery tables, means controlled by said articles for successively actuating said folders to fold said articles proportionately to their length and for automatically preventing 70 in combination a plurality of platforms, each havingmeans adapted to be actuated by articles to be folded for successively effecting actuation of devices to fold said articles and means for effecting delivery of articles having different number of folds at different platforms, accord ing to the number of folds in the article.

7. A controller for folding machines, including in combination, means adapted to be actuated by articles to be folded for successively effecting actuation of devices to fold said articles and means for automatically preventing said actuation when the length of said articles is less than a predetermined minimum.

8. A controller for folding machines, including in combination, a plurality of folding devices, delivery platforms for each of said devices means for selecting the line of fold of articles, means for varying the fold division and means for effecting delivery of articles having different number of folds at different platforms, depending on the number of folds in said articles.

- 9. In folding machines, including in combination, a plurality of fold devices, a plurality of platforms corresponding to said fold devices, means controlled by articles to be folded for actuating said fold devices and means for automatically preventing said actuation when the actuating article is lessthan'a predetermined size whereby articles receiving a different numveyors.

her of folds will be delivered to'different platforms.

10. In a machine for folding articles of varying sizes, the combination of a folder, conveying means, control means for selecting the line of 5 fold determined by the size of the article being conveyed oneach side of the folder means in proportion to the size of the article, and means to determine according to the size of an article the number of folds to be made in said article m when it is in operative relation to said folder.

11. A controlling device for folding machines cemprising a plurality of members, interconnections between corresponding members disposed on Opposite sides of a folder, contact 15 means for actuating said folder when a. pair of interconnected members have been suitably ac- "for each of said devices, means adapted to be actuated by articles to be folded upon reaching operative relation with said devicesfor succes- 35 sively effecting actuation of said devices to fold said articles proportionally to their length and to deliver said articles to their respective con- LEo M. KAHN. a 

